Job Title:  Gifted/Talented and Executive Function Specialist 

Department: Learning Support

FTE/ Benefits Status: 1.0, Full-time

Supervisor: Director of Learning Support 

Visa eligibility:  Not Eligible

International School of Denver (ISDenver) is an independent school that teaches the curricula and fulfills the highest educational standards of the United States, China, France, and Spain to prepare its students to thrive in a diverse and competitive global society.  ISDenver is a prestigious International Baccalaureate World School offering immersion bilingual international education from PreK-G8, and is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools (ACIS) and participating governments. To learn more about ISDenver, please visit our website.

Staff and Faculty members are the cornerstone of our school. In addition to driving the school’s operations, they must also embody the school’s values and believe in the school’s mission:

ISDenver Values: Diversity, Integrity, Compassion, Responsibility, Perseverance

ISDenver Mission: Our inclusive, globally minded community develops highly motivated and academically successful bilingual learners who are inter-culturally adept and make positive contributions in a complex world.

Position Description: Over the next six months the International School of Denver is  launching the XY Center for Student Learning at ISDenver. We are creating a separate institute within the school dedicated to student support and learning. As a language immersion school that begins in K1, we often don’t detect learning differences until G1-G2; this is a common challenge among schools that begin this early. While ISDenver certainly cannot support all learning differences, this new institute will allow us to open our aperture and support more of our students and families.

 The Learning Support Specialist reports to the Director of Learning Support and is a member of  the Student Support Team (SST), collaborating with other student support specialists.

Duties & Responsibilities:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that people of color and people who do not identify as cisgender men are less likely to apply to jobs unless their experience specifically matches the qualifications. At ISDenver we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply. You may be just the candidate we are looking for!

• 75% working with students and faculty to improve executive function across the entire campus
• 25% working G4-G8 school faculty to provide resources, mentoring, and coaching to provide all students with a challenging curriculum across all subject areas
• Ensuring gifted/talented students are identified effectively through appropriate diagnostic and formative assessments and observation procedures and are referred for support according to the ISD System of Referral
• Working closely with faculty, plan and follow appropriate programs of intervention for individuals and groups of students as determined by their learning needs and differences

• Establishing coherent partnerships with target language, English, subject teachers and specialists, acting in an advisory capacity or co-teaching as appropriate
• Coordinating and developing Individual Learning Plans for students in collaboration with class/subject teachers, parents, guardians, and students as appropriate
• Participating in Student Support Team meetings

• Monitoring and evaluating the progress of students and maintaining and updating documentation

• Facilitating and promoting positive relations between home and school
• Liaising regularly with the Division Director and Counselor 
• Any other reasonable duties, as directed by the school administration

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, & Personal Characteristics we are looking for:

We are looking for people who support our mission and values and want to join us in creating a nurturing, supportive, and caring environment for our students. We take great pride in how much our students love to be at our school and with our staff; a true desire to create an environment where our students are known and cared for is imperative for any candidate. Being kind, compassionate, and open-minded and having a team-first mentality are characteristics integral for anyone joining our community. 

• Computer literate specifically in Google suites of products.
• Excellent writing, speaking, personal interaction, and customer service skills
• Ability to implement of principles and practices records management and general administration
• Strong organizational and time management skills
• Deadline- and detail-oriented in a fast-paced, evolving environment
• Able to prioritize and complete tasks in a timely fashion
• A positive and collaborative team player
• Ability to communicate effectively
• A life-long learner who enhances his/her skills, using state-of-the-art technologies to maintain high standards of performance
• Ability to operate standard office equipment, including but not limited to, computers, telephone systems, scanners, copiers and facsimile machines
• Ability to follow oral and written instructions 
• Ability to exercise sound judgment
• Fluent in English and other languages(s), preferred

Minimum Qualifications:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education/Experience:

• Master’s Degree in the education field preferred
• A minimum of five years of experience in education preferred
• Qualifications/experience in working in Gifted and Talented programs
• Qualifications/experience in Executive Function Coaching
• Knowledgeable regarding best practices and developmental needs of middle school students
• Knowledgeable regarding the particular cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics and needs of gifted/highly achieving students 
• Willingness to learn specifics about the national curriculum systems and pedagogical approaches of the French, Spanish and Chinese programs and how this may impact students with learning differences

• English proficiency with excellent verbal and written communication skills
  • Level B2 required, C1+ preferred (based on Common European Framework of References for Languages) or equivalent certification such as TOEFL or IETLS.
• Demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging through continuous development, modeling inclusive behaviors, and proactively managing bias.
• Eagerness to engage with co-curricular, extra-curricular, school community, and PTO activities that promote the school’s programs and reputation
• Lived experience in multicultural settings, including international work experience, and an appreciation and respect for all cultures
• Collaborative, team-oriented, globally- and open-minded, innovative, and compassionate
• Professionalism, punctuality, reliability, and an ability to exercise sound judgment and analytical and problem solving skills
• Technological and computer competency (Google Suite, database management, etc.)

Physical Demands/Work Environment: 

• Regularly lift and/or move up to 10 pounds
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit, stand; walk; use hands to handle; reach with hands and arms and see, talk and hear 
• The employee may occasionally be required to bend, stoop or kneel

Location and Schedule:  Expected work hours are approximately 8-4:30, M-F. This job has limited remote work flexibility. All employees must be based in the Denver metro area.

Benefits (please see ISDenver benefits summary information here):

• Generous Time Off: 
  • Paid leave for all full-time staff: Thanksgiving break (3 days), winter break (2 weeks), 4th of july week (1 week)
  • Faculty: summer break (~ 2 months), October, February, and April breaks (1 week each), 6 days FTO (prorated for part-time positions)
  • Year Round Administrative staff: FTO accrued starting first day of work, 20 days FTO/year as base FTO
  • FTO encompasses most time off such as sick, personal, and vacation time
• Cigna Medical, Dental and Vision insurance with significant school contribution to Medical and Dental
• Employer-paid Life, Long- and Short-Term Disability Insurance, Life Insurance, and AD&D
• Supplemental insurance available through Colonial
• Employer contribution to 401k regardless of employee participation
• Partial tuition remission and discounted co-curricular clubs for children enrolled at ISDenver
• Discounted summer and break camps for children of full-time staff (ISDenver enrollment not required)
• J-1 visa sponsorship
• Relocation allowance
• Free daily lunch
• Professional Development opportunities
• Staff appreciation and cultural celebration events
• ...and more! 

Salary Range: per scale

This position is not eligible for J1 visa sponsorship.

To Apply:  Applications are only accepted via ISDenver’s online employment portal.   

Interviews: Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted directly. Interviews may be conducted in person, by telephone or via video conferencing. Only applicants to be invited for an interview will be contacted; no phone calls or emails, please. ISDenver does not consider nor save information sent for non-posted positions.

Notes: 

• Job descriptions are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications associated with the job.
• All employees are required to undergo, at minimum, a Colorado Department of Human Services required background check prior to employment.  Certain positions may require more extensive background checks.
• Racism, misogyny, classism, ableism, homophobia, and transphobia do not represent the values of ISDenver and will not be tolerated.

ISDenver celebrates diversity and values the strengths that come with having a diverse community. People of color, LGBTQIA+ candidates, and people from other historically marginalized communities are strongly encouraged to apply. ISDenver is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, physical or mental disability, or any other characteristic protected by law.